Electrocardiographic changes induced by suction curettage for elective termination of pregnancy

To determine if significant electrocardiographic changes occur during suction curettage for elective termination of pregnancy, continuous electrocariogram tracings were obtained from 103 patients prior to, during, and after suction curettage. Sixty-eight of 103 patients (66%) demonstrated transient sinus techycardia presumably attributable to pain (P < 0.001). Eleven of 103 patients (10.6%) demonstrated premature atrial contractions or premature ventricular contractions during suction curettage (P < 0.005). When more rigid (8 or 9 mm) curets were used, a threefold increased incidence of extrasystoles was noted. In a comparison of the incidents of electrocardiographic changes in parous versus nulliparous patients, no statistically significant differences could be demonstrated. (Unlike in previous published reports on intrauterine manipulation, bradycardia was not noted.)